: A self-illuminated shader that turns any geometry into a light source, ideal for neon signs or glowing screens.
Creating involves a layer-based workflow that simulates real-world physical properties like light reflection, transparency, and texture. Whether you are using V-Ray for SketchUp , Rhino , or 3ds Max , the core process revolves around the V-Ray Asset Editor . Core Material Parameters v-ray materials
: Used for transparent materials like glass, water, or clear plastic. This setting determines how light bends as it passes through the object. : A self-illuminated shader that turns any geometry
: This determines reflectivity based on the viewing angle. Common values include 1.33 for water and 1.62 for glass. Core Material Parameters : Used for transparent materials
The "interesting" part is that each layer retains its full physical properties (refraction, glossiness, anisotropy) and blends via weighting. Unlike opacity tricks, light bounces correctly between layers—so a scratch in the top coat correctly exposes the reflective metal beneath without breaking render time or requiring complex node trees.
: These maps simulate surface depth and intricate details like wood grain or stone textures without changing the geometry. Special Material Types V-Ray offers specialized shaders for more complex surfaces:
: This establishes the base color or pattern. You can use a solid color or a texture map to define the surface appearance.